Calibrachoa Plant Named &#39;KLECA16316&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Calibrachoa  plant particularly distinguished by dark purple flowers and a semi-upright, vigorous plant habit, is disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Canadian Plant Breeder's Rights Application number 17-9143, as filed on Mar. 27, 2017. Plant Breeder's Rights for ‘KLECA16316’ were also applied for in Europe on Jun. 30, 2017 (Application number 2017-1692). ‘KLECA16316’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.

Genus and species: Calibrachoa sp.

Variety denomination: ‘KLECA16316’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLECA16316’. ‘KLECA16316’ originated from a controlled cross conducted in Stuttgart, Germany in the summer of 2012, between the proprietary female Calibrachoa variety ‘CA-2011-0593’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Calibrachoa variety ‘CA-2011-0572’ (unpatented).

The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant was selected in May 2012 which had dark purple flowers and was subsequently named ‘KLECA16316’. In May 2012, ‘KLECA16316’ was first vegetatively propagated by tip cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany. ‘KLECA16316’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Dark purple colored flowers; and     -   2. A semi-upright and vigorous plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the flowers and foliage of the plant. The photograph is of an eight-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2014. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLECA16316’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on 20 week old plants grown outdoors in Stuttgart, Germany in June 2017. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Species.—Calibrachoa sp.         -   Common name.—Calibrachoa. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female.—Proprietary Calibrachoa ‘CA-2011-0593’ (unpatented).         -   Male.—Proprietary Calibrachoa ‘CA-2011-0572’ (unpatented). -   Plant description:     -   -   Life cycle.—Annual.         -   Form.—short-lived subshrubs.         -   Habit.—Semi-upright, vigorous.         -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—20.0 cm.         -   Spread.—62.0 cm. -   Propagation: Vegetatively propagated.     -   -   Type cuttings.—Tip cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—3 weeks. -   Stems:     -   -   Stem color.—RHS 144C.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Stem diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Stem length.—40.0 cm From soil line to first node: 2.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Ciliate.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Surface pubescence.—Absent.         -   Venation.—Arcuate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 144C Lower surface: RHS             144D.         -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.6 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower surface: RHS 137D.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Single flowers.         -   Flower type.—Determinate inflorescence.         -   Flowering requirements.—A minimum of light sun is required.         -   Duration of flowers.—6 days.         -   Corolla.—Smooth texture.         -   Shape.—Funnel form.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Length.—1.9 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Irregular to oblong.         -   Color.—RHS N92A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—1.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 145A.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Anthocyanin color.—Occasionally present; RHS N200A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower depth.—2.7 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—1.5 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—0.9 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—3.9 cm.         -   Pedicel color.—RHS 145B.         -   Calyx.—Funnel-shaped. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A Lower surface: RHS             143C. -   Petals:     -   -   Shape.—Obcordate.         -   Length.—1.8 cm.         -   Apex.—Truncate to emarginate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Base.—Open and fused in the tube.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Lobe length.—1.8 cm.         -   Lobe width.—1.8 cm.         -   Color.—Lobe color: Upper surface: RHS 83A when first opened;             RHS 83B when fully opened; RHS 203A is the main color at the             transition to corolla tube area; strong conspicuous veins             colored RHS 103A and midveins colored RHS 203A Lower             surface: RHS 83C; medium conspicuous veins colored RHS 103A             and midveins colored RHS 203A Corolla tube color: Inner: RHS             14C with medium conspicuous veins Outer: RHS 14D with medium             conspicuous veins.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—5 Anther color: RHS 7A Filament color: RHS             145C Pollen color: RHS 7A.         -   Ovary.—Placenta arrangement: Ovate Pistil number: 1 Pistil             length: 0.8 cm Stigma color: RHS 143B Style length: 0.6 cm             Style color: RHS 150C. -   Fruit/seed set: Seed is sometimes observed but additional     information is not available. -   Disease/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLECA16316’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male parent Trait ‘KLECA16316’ ‘CA-2011-0593’ ‘CA-2011-0572’ Flower area Medium Small Small of main color at transition to corolla tube Flower color In between Lighter than Darker than intensity ‘CA-2011-0593’ ‘KLECA16316’ ‘KLECA16316’ and ‘CA-2011-0572’

‘KLECA16316’ is most similar to the Calibrachoa plant named MINIFAMOUS ‘Compact Blue’, also known as ‘KLECA12236’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,887). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Trait ‘KLECA16316’ ‘KLECA12236’ Main flower RHS 83B RHS 87A color 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA16316’ as illustrated and described herein. 